Buyun Zhao

Interests

The ultimate function of the nervous system is to facilitate survival. To accomplish this task in a dynamically changing environment, the animal's behavioural strategies must alter accordingly given its context. One of the fundamental basis of this change is neuromodulation. Using the well characterised nervous system of C. elegans, I am investigating how sensory inputs can elicit these changes both at the cellular level and at the molecular level.

In addition, I am also interested in novel molecules involved with sensory transduction. Within the genome, there are still hundreds of highly conserved genes that remain to be characterised. Amongst this collection, many are specifically enriched in neurons and have completely unknown function. These genes may have key biological functions in all nervous systems. I am currently exploring some of these genes for their role in sensory transduction.

Research Focus

Equipment

Behavioural analysis

Calcium imaging

Cell culture

Computational modelling

Confocal microscopy

Fluorescence microscopy

Immunohistochemistry

Intracellular recording

Microscopy

Whole cell patch clamp